Minnesota Farmers Union

St. Paul (April 17, 2009) - Farmers Union is advocating for the inclusion of a robust and voluntary agriculture offset program in climate change legislation, urging lawmakers to support legislation that addresses the unique role America's agriculture producers can play in combating global climate change.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced that it plans to regulate greenhouse gas emissions on the grounds that these pollutants pose a danger to the public's health and welfare.

"Because agriculture and forestry lands have the potential to sequester nearly 25 percent of all annual greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, it is critical that a flexible offset program, that ensures maximum voluntary participation by the agricultural and forestry communities, is developed," said Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union President.

St. Paul (March 2, 2009) - Minnesota Farmers Union President Doug Peterson lead a discussion of how Minnesota Farmers Union can help farmers and landowners earn carbon credits for certain forestry practices at a "Forest Values & Carbon Markets Opportunities in Minnesota" conference sponsored by the Blandin Foundation.  Cosponsors were the Society of American Foresters, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Association of Consulting Foresters.

In his remarks to the 175 attendees, Farmers Union President Peterson explained that Farmers Union is an aggregator of carbon credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange.  He said, "This is an opportunity for farmers and landowners to explore another revenue stream for their properties.  It might not fit everyone, but everyone might want to explore it as an option."

Peterson said the Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program, in addition to forestry, covers certain tillage practices, seeding of long-term grasses, and other means of terrestrial carbon sequestration.  Peterson added, "Farmers have always been good stewards of the land.  The Carbon Credit Program is not only about monetary gain, it is also a demonstration by Minnesota farmers and landowners of how seriously we take our responsibility to be a part of the solution to global warming."